Such crack-drown campaigns were initiated last October under pressure from the United States and other trading partners of China. According to the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 70% of its member companies consider Beijing’s enforcement of patents, trademarks and copyrights ineffective.

Trade groups say Chinese are also copying music, designer clothing and other goods costs legitimate producers billions of US dollars a year in lost potential sales.

“Intellectual property protection is essential for building an innovation-oriented country and achieving a shift from ‘China manufactured’ to ‘China innovated’,” said Li Chenggang, director of the commerce ministry’s treaty and law department, at the press conference that announced the arrests.